How the locals want to revive the “Switzerland of Romania”: “The places deserve to appear on all the world's screens” PHOTO

The scenario of a well-known blogger became the basis of a film that was shot last fall in the Voineasa mountain resort, in Vâlcea county, in a dream setting.

It is about Alexandra Lopotaru from Vâlcea (34 years old), the creator of the blog “Povești din Bebelonia” and the magazine “Bebelonia”, journalist by profession, originally from the mentioned mountain resort.

At the filming (SEE PHOTO) actors such as Olimpia Melinte took part, known to the public especially from the series “Vlad”, but also from “Căutătorul de vânt” or “Băieți depți” and who will appear this year in “Moromeții 3”.

Both, Alexandra and Olimpia, wanted to do something to enhance and promote the settlement in the Lotru Mountains, which had entered an undeserved shadow cone.

“I love Voineasa with all my pore…”

Many have passed through Valea Lotrului, but few have stayed and done something concrete for this wonderful area with incredible potential. The most recent example of this kind is the film shot in the fall of 2023.

The initiative belongs to a local man (now abroad), Alexandra Lopotaru – involved over time in a series of events aimed at promoting the area, as in the present case. He wanted to bring back to the attention of the world the unparalleled beauty of his native places, despite those who believe that the area could be successfully shot, rather, a movie with an apocalyptic scenario, given the existing setting. It practically does not require any modification, everything seems to be prepared in this regard, after the entire tourist base of the resort, taken over by the unions, after the Revolution, was practically abandoned.

Alexandra instead chose to highlight the area's potential rather than highlight its negative parts: “Voineasa is the place where I was born and grew up… I love her with all my heart and I want to help her whenever possible, because she gave me the most beautiful childhood and the most innocent memories…”.

On this occasion, she also debuted as a screenwriter, adding a new occupation to her CV.

Actress Olimpia Melinte: “I fell in love with these places”

For her part, Olimpia admitted that she fell in love with Voineasa because of Alexandra: “Until I met Alexandra, I didn't know anything about this area. Thanks to her, I arrived at Valea Lotrului for the first time and I fell in love with these places. On this occasion, I also understood what attracts Alexandra here, since she returns home every time with pleasure”.

Voineasa, also known as the “Switzerland of Romania”, due to its dreamlike landscapes, has thus also become for Olimpia o “another house”, in addition to the one in Iasi, where he was born, or in Bucharest, where he lives. He even came to Voineasa more often than to Iași.

Also during the filming, it was found out that the director was also familiar with these places, spending many of his vacations here with his family.

“We wanted to do something to promote the area”Olimpia Melinte also admitted.

Locals came with props: “an old bicycle, scarf and slippers, chickens and flowers”

The Association joined their approach “Discover Voineasa” and local people, from the simple to those who own tourism businesses.

“Many guesthouses contributed to the making of this film, one even helped with the logistics and the most important aspect of the short film – the old house where all the action takes place. In this way, we thank everyone, including the people from Voineasa who helped us with the props: sometimes with an old bicycle, sometimes with an apron, a scarf and slippers, sometimes with chickens, or carpets and flowers. Everything shows how cool our people are”testified the representatives of “Discover Voineasa”.

Among the main sponsors – an NGO

They also revealed other aspects, such as those related to the film's cast:
“As our mission is to promote these places that deserve to appear on all the screens of the world, we decided to become one of the main sponsors in the area. The short film deals with a child's trauma, an adult's healing, coming to terms with the past and our roots. Among the actors, in addition to Olimpia, there were also Daniel Hara, Bogdan Albulescu, Sasha Luca, Cătălina Marincescu and Mira Haralambie”.

“The “Well”, the idealization of country life, the universe reaped from reality and dung”

But most secrets about the short film have been revealed for “Weekend Truth” by the screenwriter who started the initiative: “The “fountain” is the ideal, utopian rural universe from the urban imagination, reaped from reality and dung. As someone who grew up in the country and moved, at age 11, to school in the city, I noticed an idealization of country life, a maximization of rural opportunities and a minimization or ignorance of challenges. Because growing up in the country is a continuous challenge”.

Alexandra Lopotaru also narrated her own memories related to the first years of her life, spent in the countryside, which she also included in the script: “Childhood 30 years ago, from Voineasa, like everywhere in the country, it revolved around the cows and pigs, around the bucket of water from the well, because there was no running water in the houses, around the latrines at the back of the yard, because there was no toilet… However, despite the shortcomings , people knew how to have fun, put their worries away for an evening, keeping traditions alive and passing them on. People knew that their salvation, for a better life, was the school, and the threat “you will become a shepherd to the sheep” was more of a reality. All this can be found in the film”.

“What the film really wants to show is parental love”

“Country people are still people”the screenwriter also noted. “They love on the street as they would love on a New York street, as you will also discover in the film. But what “Fântâna” really wants to show is parental love. Raised with “what the world says”, with limiting thoughts, superstitions, with the idea that the role of the little ones is to help in the household and they should only be kissed in their sleep, so that they don't go to their heads, there are also people, like one of the characters principals, who feel they deserve a lot, whose parental instinct is stronger than the voices around them”Alexandra Lopotaru also revealed for “Weekend Truth”.

The opportunity to understand childhood traumas, but also to be grateful

“In the short film “Fântâna” I wanted to practically show the paradox of rural life: the shortcomings and dangers that children of those times could face, but also the love of a parent that transcends time. It was not said, perhaps, “I love you”, but this could be seen from the actions. I also think it is an opportunity to understand what childhood trauma means, but also the bridge through which we can appreciate those around us more and show them how important they are to us while they are alive “, the blogger also mentioned.

“I hope that more parents or grandparents will have the courage to say, after watching this film, a simple and natural “I love you”, or they will have the certainty that their actions spoke more than any words”the screenwriter born in Voineasa expressed her hope.

“When it was filmed from above, I realized how gorgeous the area is”

As for the places where the film was shot, Alexandra Lopotaru would divulge:
“At the end of the filming, the director asked me what exactly was not ok, I seemed a bit displeased. I admitted to her that I'm just nostalgic, because only now, when Voineasa was filmed from above, I realized how gorgeous it is! I don't think I've ever appreciated it as much as I do now, because I take it for granted. And I'm a little sorry. And that's how it is, we don't really appreciate the things we're used to at their true value. I wish that with “The Fountain” some myths will be broken and some beliefs will be strengthened”.

However, the road to the appearance on the small or big screens of the film cast in the fairytale setting in the heart of the Southern Carpathians still takes some time.